JewishGen.org Discussion Group FAQs
What is the JewishGen.org Discussion Group?
The JewishGen.org Discussion Group unites thousands of Jewish genealogical researchers worldwide as they research their family history, search for relatives, and share information, ideas, methods, tips, techniques, and resources. The JewishGen.org Discussion Group makes it easy, quick, and fun, to connect with others around the world.
Is it Secure?
Yes. JewishGen is using a state of the art platform with the most contemporary security standards. JewishGen will never share member information with third parties.
How is the New JewishGen.org Discussion Group better than the old one?
Our old Discussion List platform was woefully antiquated. Among its many challenges: it was not secure, it required messages to be sent in Plain Text, did not support accented characters or languages other than English, could not display links or images, and had archives that were not mobile-friendly.
This new platform that JewishGen is using is a scalable, and sustainable solution, and allows us to engage with JewishGen members throughout the world. It offers a simple and intuitive interface for both members and moderators, more powerful tools, and more secure archives (which are easily accessible on mobile devices, and which also block out personal email addresses to the public).
I am a JewishGen member, why do I have to create a separate account for the Discussion Group?
As we continue to modernize our platform, we are trying to ensure that everything meets contemporary security standards. In the future, we plan hope to have one single sign-in page.
I like how the current lists work. Will I still be able to send/receive emails of posts (and/or digests)?
Yes. In terms of functionality, the group will operate the same for people who like to participate with email. People can still send a message to an email address (in this case, main@groups.JewishGen.org), and receive a daily digest of postings, or individual emails. In addition, Members can also receive a daily summary of topics, and then choose which topics they would like to read about it. However, in addition to email, there is the additional functionality of being able to read/post messages utilizing our online forum (https://groups.jewishgen.org).
Does this new system require plain-text?
No.
Can I post images, accented characters, different colors/font sizes, non-latin characters?
Yes.
Can I categorize a message? For example, if my message is related to Polish, or Ukraine research, can I indicate as such?
Yes! Our new platform allows members to use “Hashtags.” Messages can then be sorted, and searched, based upon how they are categorized. Another advantage is that members can “mute” any conversations they are not interested in, by simply indicating they are not interested in a particular “hashtag.”
Will all posts be archived?
Yes.
Can I still search though old messages?
Yes. All the messages are accessible and searchable going back to 1998.
What if I have questions or need assistance using the new Group?
Send your questions to: support@JewishGen.org
How do I access the Group’s webpage?
Follow this link: https://groups.jewishgen.org/g/main
So just to be sure - this new group will allow us to post from our mobile phones, includes images, accented characters, and non-latin characters, and does not require plain text?
Correct!
Will there be any ads or annoying pop-ups?
No.
Will the current guidelines change?
Yes. While posts will be moderated to ensure civility, and that there is nothing posted that is inappropriate (or completely unrelated to genealogy), we will be trying to create an online community of people who regulate themselves, much as they do (very successfully) on Jewish Genealogy Portal on Facebook.
What are the new guidelines?
There are just a few simple rules & guidelines to follow, which you can read here:https://groups.jewishgen.org/g/main/guidelines
Thank you in advance for contributing to this amazing online community!
If you have any questions, or suggestions, please email support@JewishGen.org.
Sincerely,
The JewishGen.org Team
CZ Torah highlighted in Dallas Film Festival
#austria-czech
Vitdoc@...
The Fine family of Dallas who worked with the Cz Torah Network
www.czechtorah.org have informed me that Bob Curry's documentary "Dancing With Torah" has just been notified that it was accepted, by the Dallas Video Festival. It will be screened on Sunday, August 7th at Noon, at the Dallas Theatre Center in the Video Cabaret. The main characters of Bob's film, are an antique Torah Scroll from Horovice, Czechoslovakia that survived the Nazis, The Dallas Survivor Community (many of them who are featured prominently in the film), and a young boy (Zachary Fine Albert) who set out to raise the funds to bring the survivor scroll to Dallas. Much of the Narration is done brilliantly by Rabbi Kenneth D. Roseman. Who acted as an advisor for the project. The video, will take you on a journey >from Dallas, to London, to Horovice, and then back to the Torah's new home The Dallas Holocaust Museum. The survivors messages about hope and survival are immeasurable, the Torah's message is everlasting. It is a touching, and uplifting documentary. Hope all those in Texas might get to see it. Susan Boyer LA CA
|
|
Austria-Czech SIG #Austria-Czech CZ Torah highlighted in Dallas Film Festival
#austria-czech
Vitdoc@...
The Fine family of Dallas who worked with the Cz Torah Network
www.czechtorah.org have informed me that Bob Curry's documentary "Dancing With Torah" has just been notified that it was accepted, by the Dallas Video Festival. It will be screened on Sunday, August 7th at Noon, at the Dallas Theatre Center in the Video Cabaret. The main characters of Bob's film, are an antique Torah Scroll from Horovice, Czechoslovakia that survived the Nazis, The Dallas Survivor Community (many of them who are featured prominently in the film), and a young boy (Zachary Fine Albert) who set out to raise the funds to bring the survivor scroll to Dallas. Much of the Narration is done brilliantly by Rabbi Kenneth D. Roseman. Who acted as an advisor for the project. The video, will take you on a journey >from Dallas, to London, to Horovice, and then back to the Torah's new home The Dallas Holocaust Museum. The survivors messages about hope and survival are immeasurable, the Torah's message is everlasting. It is a touching, and uplifting documentary. Hope all those in Texas might get to see it. Susan Boyer LA CA
|
|
Ellis Island Database/Elusive Hometown of the WEINSTEIN Family
#general
Lilli Sprintz <spri0037@...>
Thank you all for replying to my question about manifest markings.
I've learned alot >from the information you sent, and am beginning to read through all the extensive information >from the JewishGen website info files about this. Very interesting. Lilli Sprintz MODERATOR NOTE: The InfoFile is: : Guide to Interpreting Passenger List Annotations" by Marian L. Smith, located at: http://www.jewishgen.org/infofiles/Manifests/
|
|
JewishGen Discussion Group #JewishGen Ellis Island Database/Elusive Hometown of the WEINSTEIN Family
#general
Lilli Sprintz <spri0037@...>
Thank you all for replying to my question about manifest markings.
I've learned alot >from the information you sent, and am beginning to read through all the extensive information >from the JewishGen website info files about this. Very interesting. Lilli Sprintz MODERATOR NOTE: The InfoFile is: : Guide to Interpreting Passenger List Annotations" by Marian L. Smith, located at: http://www.jewishgen.org/infofiles/Manifests/
|
|
Philadelphia Public Library resources
#general
Monica Talmor
I will be in Philadelphia over the weekend and I see >from the website that
the Philadelphia Public Library is open on Sunday. Other than city directories and newspapers, are there any other resources at the central branch which may shedd light on a family living there in 1900 (i. e. any kind of civil records available)? Monica Talmor Hamden, CT
|
|
JewishGen Discussion Group #JewishGen Philadelphia Public Library resources
#general
Monica Talmor
I will be in Philadelphia over the weekend and I see >from the website that
the Philadelphia Public Library is open on Sunday. Other than city directories and newspapers, are there any other resources at the central branch which may shedd light on a family living there in 1900 (i. e. any kind of civil records available)? Monica Talmor Hamden, CT
|
|
Re: re surnames
#general
Stan Goodman <SPAM_FOILER@...>
On Thu, 7 Jul 2005 19:35:03 UTC, BGHHeinrich@comcast.net (Barbara Heinrich)
opined: My family name was GIBIANSKI and my ancestors came >from Giby- a town inThis probably means "Suwalki Gubernia". originated >from the town of Gibeon near Jerusalem. ( It is now an Arab"City" is probably overenthusiastic. The village is called "Jib", and represents Biblical Giv'on. The answer to the question is unqualified No. The tribe in question (which we are told were condemned to be "hewers of wood and drawers of water") did not wander off to the shores of the Baltic Sea, there to pursue their menial labors as Polaks. But, given that the sun is said to have remained stationary in the skies above Giv'on during battle, anything is possible. Also, there is another Jewish GIBIAN branch in the United States, but thisPeople migrate; Jews certainly migrate. That doesn't imply that they were all one family, anymore than Jewish families named Berliner or Moskowsky (or any other toponymic) are related. -- Stan Goodman, Qiryat Tiv'on, Israel Searching: NEACHOWICZ/NOACHOWICZ, NEJMAN/NAJMAN, SURALSKI: >from Lomza Gubernia ISMACH: >from Lomza Gubernia, Galicia, and Ukraina HERTANU, ABRAMOVICI, LAUER: >from Dorohoi District, Romania GRISARU, VATARU: >from Iasi, Dorohoi, and Mileanca, Romania See my interactive family tree (requires Java 1.1.6 or better). the URL is: http://www.hashkedim.com For reasons connected with anti-spam/junk security, the return address is not valid. To communicate with me, please visit my website (see the URL above -- no Java required for this purpose) and fill in the email form there.
|
|
JewishGen Discussion Group #JewishGen Re: re surnames
#general
Stan Goodman <SPAM_FOILER@...>
On Thu, 7 Jul 2005 19:35:03 UTC, BGHHeinrich@comcast.net (Barbara Heinrich)
opined: My family name was GIBIANSKI and my ancestors came >from Giby- a town inThis probably means "Suwalki Gubernia". originated >from the town of Gibeon near Jerusalem. ( It is now an Arab"City" is probably overenthusiastic. The village is called "Jib", and represents Biblical Giv'on. The answer to the question is unqualified No. The tribe in question (which we are told were condemned to be "hewers of wood and drawers of water") did not wander off to the shores of the Baltic Sea, there to pursue their menial labors as Polaks. But, given that the sun is said to have remained stationary in the skies above Giv'on during battle, anything is possible. Also, there is another Jewish GIBIAN branch in the United States, but thisPeople migrate; Jews certainly migrate. That doesn't imply that they were all one family, anymore than Jewish families named Berliner or Moskowsky (or any other toponymic) are related. -- Stan Goodman, Qiryat Tiv'on, Israel Searching: NEACHOWICZ/NOACHOWICZ, NEJMAN/NAJMAN, SURALSKI: >from Lomza Gubernia ISMACH: >from Lomza Gubernia, Galicia, and Ukraina HERTANU, ABRAMOVICI, LAUER: >from Dorohoi District, Romania GRISARU, VATARU: >from Iasi, Dorohoi, and Mileanca, Romania See my interactive family tree (requires Java 1.1.6 or better). the URL is: http://www.hashkedim.com For reasons connected with anti-spam/junk security, the return address is not valid. To communicate with me, please visit my website (see the URL above -- no Java required for this purpose) and fill in the email form there.
|
|
Re: re surnames
#general
Robert Israel <israel@...>
In article < 20050707135023.1925041A5@mailgw.jgen.org >,
Barbara Heinrich < BGHHeinrich@comcast.net > wrote: My family name was GIBIANSKI and my ancestors came >from Giby- a town inThe legend is just that - a legend. Very far-fetched, because there's probably something like a 50 generation gap between when your ancestors left Gibeon and when they acquired a surname. The name Gibianski very likely comes >from the name of the town Giby, and means ">from Giby". Also, there is another Jewish GIBIAN branch in the United States, but thisMigration could go both ways. However, if the name is >from the Polish town of Giby, it's more likely that they were living somewhere near that town when they acquired the name (not right in it, because if you're in Giby the phrase ">from Giby" doesn't distinguish you >from your neighbours; but close enough that people would know what Giby was). Robert Israel israel@math.ubc.ca Vancouver, BC, Canada
|
|
JewishGen Discussion Group #JewishGen Re: re surnames
#general
Robert Israel <israel@...>
In article < 20050707135023.1925041A5@mailgw.jgen.org >,
Barbara Heinrich < BGHHeinrich@comcast.net > wrote: My family name was GIBIANSKI and my ancestors came >from Giby- a town inThe legend is just that - a legend. Very far-fetched, because there's probably something like a 50 generation gap between when your ancestors left Gibeon and when they acquired a surname. The name Gibianski very likely comes >from the name of the town Giby, and means ">from Giby". Also, there is another Jewish GIBIAN branch in the United States, but thisMigration could go both ways. However, if the name is >from the Polish town of Giby, it's more likely that they were living somewhere near that town when they acquired the name (not right in it, because if you're in Giby the phrase ">from Giby" doesn't distinguish you >from your neighbours; but close enough that people would know what Giby was). Robert Israel israel@math.ubc.ca Vancouver, BC, Canada
|
|
Translation of 2 Records in Cyrillic
#general
Howard Orenstein
Dear Friends,
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
I would like to get two records I just received >from PSA translated into English. Please provide all the names (except those of the witnesses), dates, and addresses(if available). They can be found at the following web sites: 1) Birth of Estera Malka ORENSZTEJN (1886) http://www2.mcdaniel.edu/Psychology/HBO/A161.jpg 2) Wedding of Chersz Jankel KRYSZTAL & Ita Golda ORENSZTEJN (1894) http://www2.mcdaniel.edu/Psychology/HBO/A7.jpg I really appreciate your help. Thanks. Howard ORENSTEIN Westminster, MD horenstein@mcdaniel.edu Searching for ORENSTEIN, BLUM (BLOOM), HOLLAND, PIENIEK, OSTROWIAK
from Wyszkow, Serock, Poland
|
|
Re: Surnames
#austria-czech
Sally Bruckheimer <sallybru@...>
The short answer is 'Yes'. ;-)
Actually, if his parents were married civilly, he would be named with his father's surname - usually. If his parents were married religiously but not civilly, he would be named with his mother's surname - usually. This is for civil records. What he called himself and what his neighbors called him was different. And what he called himself after he left Europe was some third thing. However, sometimes men were registered with other surnames to avoid the draft or for some other reason. Usually, among the Jews he would have been known as 'Ovsei ben David' or whatever his and his father's forenames were, with probably no surname. And in the US, he could have used any surname he chose. You need to look at the records >from the town he came >from (if you know it) with an open mind. Check his first name and his father's first name and whatever else you know. He might be Maurer or Bergstein or something else. He might have been registered with his brother as one person (eldest son is exempt >from draft, so only admit you have one son) or as somebody else's son or not at all. Actually, it seems amazing that anybody finds any record of their ancestors in Russia, but amazingly they often do. Just be happy that there are records to check, as my mother's mother's family come >from an area which has no civil bmd records at all. Good luck, Sally Bruckheimer Chatham, NJ
|
|
JewishGen Discussion Group #JewishGen Translation of 2 Records in Cyrillic
#general
Howard Orenstein
Dear Friends,
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
I would like to get two records I just received >from PSA translated into English. Please provide all the names (except those of the witnesses), dates, and addresses(if available). They can be found at the following web sites: 1) Birth of Estera Malka ORENSZTEJN (1886) http://www2.mcdaniel.edu/Psychology/HBO/A161.jpg 2) Wedding of Chersz Jankel KRYSZTAL & Ita Golda ORENSZTEJN (1894) http://www2.mcdaniel.edu/Psychology/HBO/A7.jpg I really appreciate your help. Thanks. Howard ORENSTEIN Westminster, MD horenstein@mcdaniel.edu Searching for ORENSTEIN, BLUM (BLOOM), HOLLAND, PIENIEK, OSTROWIAK
from Wyszkow, Serock, Poland
|
|
JewishGen Discussion Group #JewishGen Re: Surnames
#general
Sally Bruckheimer <sallybru@...>
The short answer is 'Yes'. ;-)
Actually, if his parents were married civilly, he would be named with his father's surname - usually. If his parents were married religiously but not civilly, he would be named with his mother's surname - usually. This is for civil records. What he called himself and what his neighbors called him was different. And what he called himself after he left Europe was some third thing. However, sometimes men were registered with other surnames to avoid the draft or for some other reason. Usually, among the Jews he would have been known as 'Ovsei ben David' or whatever his and his father's forenames were, with probably no surname. And in the US, he could have used any surname he chose. You need to look at the records >from the town he came >from (if you know it) with an open mind. Check his first name and his father's first name and whatever else you know. He might be Maurer or Bergstein or something else. He might have been registered with his brother as one person (eldest son is exempt >from draft, so only admit you have one son) or as somebody else's son or not at all. Actually, it seems amazing that anybody finds any record of their ancestors in Russia, but amazingly they often do. Just be happy that there are records to check, as my mother's mother's family come >from an area which has no civil bmd records at all. Good luck, Sally Bruckheimer Chatham, NJ
|
|
VM6433: Translation help, please -- Yiddish to English
#general
Debbie Skolnik
I have a postcard on the Viewmate site in Yiddish that
I would like to have translated. It is VM6433, and can be found at: http://data.jewishgen.org/viewmate/ALL/viewmateview.asp?key=6433 Many thanks in advance for assistance. Debbie Cohen Skolnik Searching: LANDY, LANDE, LONDIN -- Bialystok-Chicago (Tilly Landy) GARBARSH, GARBAR, GERBER -- Ostrow - Chicago (Jacob Gerber) SOLUTUSZKYN -- ??Jatyn (on Ellis Island Records)-Brooklyn, NY Peshe (Bessie) Solutuszkyn Cohen KISSIN -- Kiev-Brooklyn, NY became Barney or Barnet Cohen at some point MODERATOR NOTE: Please reply privately.
|
|
JewishGen Discussion Group #JewishGen VM6433: Translation help, please -- Yiddish to English
#general
Debbie Skolnik
I have a postcard on the Viewmate site in Yiddish that
I would like to have translated. It is VM6433, and can be found at: http://data.jewishgen.org/viewmate/ALL/viewmateview.asp?key=6433 Many thanks in advance for assistance. Debbie Cohen Skolnik Searching: LANDY, LANDE, LONDIN -- Bialystok-Chicago (Tilly Landy) GARBARSH, GARBAR, GERBER -- Ostrow - Chicago (Jacob Gerber) SOLUTUSZKYN -- ??Jatyn (on Ellis Island Records)-Brooklyn, NY Peshe (Bessie) Solutuszkyn Cohen KISSIN -- Kiev-Brooklyn, NY became Barney or Barnet Cohen at some point MODERATOR NOTE: Please reply privately.
|
|
Joe Ross <joeross1220@...>
To TE:
This is not unusual. My mother's family is originally >from Lodz and a number relatives came to France just after WWI (Many still live there).My grandparents came to Paris in the mid 1920s and by 1927 moved to the Moselle Deaprtment where other relatives were already established. If you review the Klarsfeld lists, you will see quite a few people >from Lodz and trhe surrounding towns. Joe Ross KNOP, CHAJMOWICZ, ENGEL,LEBOWICZ, LUBOCHINSKI >from Lodz
|
|
Joe Ross <joeross1220@...>
To TE:
This is not unusual. My mother's family is originally >from Lodz and a number relatives came to France just after WWI (Many still live there).My grandparents came to Paris in the mid 1920s and by 1927 moved to the Moselle Deaprtment where other relatives were already established. If you review the Klarsfeld lists, you will see quite a few people >from Lodz and trhe surrounding towns. Joe Ross KNOP, CHAJMOWICZ, ENGEL,LEBOWICZ, LUBOCHINSKI >from Lodz
|
|
Re Jewish surnames - correction to a message
#general
HPOLLINS@...
In my message just now I wrote:
< One possible inference >from this is that Jews could decide to take on whichever Jewish names they wished. > This should of course have read '...whichever GERMAN names they wished.' Many apologies Harold Pollins
|
|
JewishGen Discussion Group #JewishGen Re Jewish surnames - correction to a message
#general
HPOLLINS@...
In my message just now I wrote:
< One possible inference >from this is that Jews could decide to take on whichever Jewish names they wished. > This should of course have read '...whichever GERMAN names they wished.' Many apologies Harold Pollins
|
|